Labour peer David Lipsey found dead after body recovered from River Wye

After a large-scale search, a body was recovered from the river, which has subsequently been identified as David Lipsey, Baron Lipsey.

It follows the announcement of his death in the Lords on Wednesday afternoon – with the House’s Speaker Lord McFall extending peers’ condolences to his family and friends.

The Labour peer’s final contribution to Britain’s upper chamber came on October 9 last year – where, chillingly, he told Lords of his love for swimming in the Wye.

Speaking during the second reading of the Water (Special Measures) Bill, he said: “We go swimming at Glasbury most mornings in summer, some mornings in winter, and my wife even took the plunge once on Boxing Day, for which she should certainly have a medal.

“We still do this, but it is a deteriorating experience.

“Part of the river near us was closed this summer to wild swimmers such as us on the grounds of pollution.”

Lipsey, 77, had been a journalist for The Times, The Guardian and The Economist before serving as a No10 adviser to Prime Minister Jim Callaghan.

He had also been deeply involved in left-wing politics, having been the chairman of the socialist Fabian Society.

Later in life, he led the All-Party Parliamentary group on Classical Music.

Outside his political career, he was a major player on the greyhound racing scene, with the Racing Post labelling him “one of the power-brokers of the sport”.

Lipsey was president of the British Harness Racing Club from 2008 to 2016, and chaired the British Greyhound Racing Board from 2004 to 2009.

More to follow…